Indian Old Fields

Over 50 significant prehistoric and historic archaeological sites have been identified in the Indian Old Fields area of Clark County, Kentucky. These date from 8000 B.C. to A.D. 1800. Several of these sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Indian Old Fields was the one-time home of Shawnee chief Catahecassa (Black Hoof), the reputed site of John Finley’s trading post, as well as Eskippakithiki, one of the last Indian towns in what is now Kentucky. Pioneers who explored the Indian Old Fields area in 1775 reported evidence of old buildings, Indian fortifications, mounds and extensive areas that had been cultivated, which they took to be corn fields. These pioneers gave sworn statements about what they saw and directed the locations to be laid down by survey. They testified that a place they called the “gateposts” appeared to have been the area most recently occupied by the Indians.